Sadler’s Wells – passing of a legend
Last week it was announced that champion sire Sadler’s Wells had died. He was 30. Grandson Frankel and granddaughter Igugu (both sired by Galileo) paid further homage to the great stallion with convincing classic wins on Saturday, in the G1Quipco 2000 Guineas and G2 SA Oaks respectively.
Frankel (Galileo) grandson of Sadler's Wells wins Gr1 QIPCO Guineas
Few stallions have ever dominated the general sires list to the extent that Sadler’s Wells did. He was champion sire 14 times in the UK/Ireland. Sadler’s Wells was also champion sire in France on three occasions, whilst to date, Sadler’s Wells has been champion broodmare sire six times in the UK. He was also the champion broodmare sire in North America in 2010 – and to date is the broodmare sire of 266 stakes winners.
Whilst Sadler’s Wells long dominated the stallion ranks in the UK, victory in that region’s greatest race, the Epsom Derby, eluded his progeny until 2001 when Galileo stormed home to victory. Remarkably, the very next year Sadler’s Wells was represented by a second Derby winner when champion High Chaparral strode home to beat Hawk Wing at Epsom. Sadler’s Wells also had the remarkable record of siring seven colts who finished runner up in the English Derby!
The progeny of Sadler’s Wells certainly thrived at Epsom, as he sired five Coronation Cup winners and five Epsom Oaks. In 2001, Sadler’s Wells daughters filled the first three positions in the Oaks, when Imagine conquered her paternal half-sisters Flight of Fancy and Relish The Thought.
Sadler’s Wells offspring captured every British classic, as well as every Irish one.
Whilst best known as a sire of high-class mile and a half horses, Sadler’s Wells also sired plenty of high-class milers. His sons, Entrepreneur and King of Kings, both won the 2000 Guineas, whilst another two, Barathea and Saffron Waldon, landed the Irish equivalent.
Sadler’s Wells, sire of over 320 stakes winners to date, also achieved plenty of success with his offspring in North America. He sired five Breeders Cup winners namely High Chaparral, Northern Spur, Barathea, Islington and In The Wings . They combined to win six Breeders Cup races, all on turf, with High Chaparral capturing two consecutive runnings of the Breeders Cup Turf.
In the 1994 Breeders Cup Mile, two Sadler’s Wells colts, Barathea and Johann Quatz, ran 1-2.
Sadler’s Wells got off to an strong start at stud when his first crop, born in 1986, produced no fewer than six G1 winners. They included champions Old Vic and IN The Wings, both of whom went onto make their mark at stud. Old Vic, whilst a disappointing flat sire, has done well his offspring over jumps, and has sired Grand National winners Comply or Die and Don’t Push It.
In The Wings, who died somewhat prematurely, sired over 50 stakes winners, including G1 winners Winged Love, Mamool, Fidelite, Kutub and Singspiel. The latter has become a highly successful sire himself, siring more than 50 stakes winners including Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad, French Oaks winner Confidential Lady and champion US filly Lahudood.
Not only was Sadler’s Wells a hugely influential flat sire, he also left a mark as a sire of good jumps stallions. His sons Oscar, Accordion and King’s Theatre have all done well as National Hunt sires, whilst Sadler’s Wells himself sired the US National Hunt champion Corregio as well as the much loved Irish champion hurdler, Istabraq. The latter won the Champion Hurdle three times, and was one of the most popular horses of the last twenty years.
One of Sadler’s Wells best loved sons was Yeats. The magnificent bay achieved the unthinkable by reeling off four consecutive wins in the Ascot Gold Cup. A one time favourite for the Epsom Derby, Yeats became one of Britain’s most recognizable horses, endearing himself to the public with his durability and class. Yeats, bred on similar lines to champion Montjeu, was represented by his first crop of foals in 2011.
For many years, Sadler’s Wells was dismissed as being a poor sire of sires. However, in recent times, a number of his sons have pushed him to the fore as a sire of sires. Son El Prado, a vastly underrated sire in the US, was champion sire in North America in 2002. He is the sire of the hugely promising sire Medaglia d’oro, sire of US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.
Another son, High Chaparral, currently heads the Australian general sires list. His first Southern Hemisphere crop produced four G1 winners to date, including dual Cox Plate winner So You Think. The latter is now in training with Aidan O’Brien. High Chaparral is one of Australia’s most sought after sires, whilst his Northern Hemisphere runners include G1 winner Redwood and the classic placed pair of High Heeled Lady and Golden Sword.
Another sire son of Sadler’s Wells to do well at stud is Montjeu. Sire of over 90 stakes winners to date, Montjeu is the sire of 19 individual G1 winners including Motivator (Epsom Derby), Authorized (Epsom Derby), Scorpion (Grand Prix de Paris) and promising young sire Hurricane Run. Montjeu was champion sire in France in 2005, the year Hurricane Run won the Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe.
However, Sadler’s Wells’ greatest sire son is without question Galileo. A son of blue hen mare Urban Sea, Galileo has been afforded every chance at stud, and he has exceeded expectations. Twice champion sire in the UK, Galileo’s champions include Frankel, winner of this year’s Quipco 2000 Guineas, Derby winner New Approach and Breeders Cup Turf winner Red Rocks. He is also sire of promising young sire Teofilo. In 2006, sons of Galileo filled the first three home in the English St Leger, when Sixties Icon defeated The Last Drop and Red Rocks.
Sadler’s Wells also made his presence felt in South Africa. His son Fort Wood has been champion sire on several occasions, and Fort Wood’s sons include the excellent young sire Dynasty, sire of leading July hopeful Run For It. Another sire son to do well here was Casey Tibbs, sire of former July winner Big City Life and SA Oaks winner Festive Occasion, to name a few. Sadler’s Wells is also broodmare sire of former Cape Fillies Guineas winner Bad Girl Runs.
It is safe to say that Sadler’s Wells was a once in a lifetime stallion, and his legacy looks set to continue to many years to come.
